VADA - The Visual Arts & Design Academy at Santa Barbara High School presents its 4th VADATalks.
Art x AI: Who Makes, Who Owns, Who Decides?
6:30PM - Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Is AI copying—or creating? Who signs an AI‑made canvas? And when deepfakes blur truth, what should galleries, schools, and collectors do next? Art × AI: Who Makes, Who Owns, Who Decides? brings a philosopher of machine vision (Fabian Offert), a gallerist (Nathan Vonk), a Berlin‑based artist (Ulrike Kerber), an illustrator‑educator (Scott Anderson), and a media editor (Les Firestein) into one high‑energy, no‑jargon conversation. Expect real cases (from Getty Images v. Stability AI to Warhol v. Goldsmith), fast takes, and audience interaction.
$25 admission. Free admission for full time students.
VADATalks is an ongoing series of events featuring renowned guests from all professions discussing how art has inspired the work they do. The series is presented by VADA - The Visual Art & Design Academy of Santa Barbara High School. VADA integrates rigorous academic coursework with project-based, career-focused art and design instruction, in a supportive and creative environment.
Beyond Light: Photographing the Unseen
7PM - Monday, May 19, 2025
Featuring Jeff "J.K." Lovelace and Dr. Erik Lucero
A conversation facilitated by Dr. Silvia Perea
Join us for a special viewing and fascinating discussion by two local and nationally renowned artists who make the unknown known, capturing beauty in distant stars and microscopic quantum processors alike.
This year's VADATalks will be the first to take place in the NEW VADA Building! Join us for this inaugural event. Limited seating is available.
$25 admission. SOLD OUT Sign up for the waitlist
Free admission for full time students.
Santa Barbara High’s Visual Arts & Design Academy Debuts VADATalks
First Installment of New Lecture Series Touches on AI, Asteroids, and Being Creative in the Age of Advanced Technology
Serious Play
7PM - Thursday, May 9, 2024
With guest speakers Bruce Heavin, Silvia Perea, & Robin Donaldson, AIA A conversation facilitated by Les Firestein
Fé Bland Forum at Santa Barbara City College
Art, Design & Quantum Computing
7PM - Thursday, October 12, 2023
With guest speakers Robin Donaldson, AIA; Dr. Erik Lucero & Forest Stearns with Google Quantum AI
A conversation facilitated by Les Firestein
Fé Bland Forum at Santa Barbara City College
Videos
Morning Session at Santa Barbara High School
Evening Session at Santa Barbara City College
2024 UPCOMING EVENTS
We have more events planned for Spring 2024. Check back soon or subscribe to our mailing list for the latest information.
VADA CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
VADA is currently constructing a state-of-the-art campus with an integrated Design Lab and Art Studio. The new campus will provide the flexibility and space needed to prepare our creative and diverse community of students for their professional lives.
VADATalks